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Subscribing to a new streaming service is just as confusing as ever. Almost all top services advertise unique features, quality content, great user experience, and affordable pricing as their key features. This makes it all the more difficult to figure out what's actually worthwhile.

Two of the best subscription streaming products you will see are YouTube Premium and YouTube TV. They may appear to be nearly twin offerings from YouTube with only one word apart, but the content and features they offer are very different. In fact, there is so much more to consider when making a final purchase to make sure you don’t end up regretting your decision later on.

To assist you in this regard, we have prepared a detailed comparison of both services, so you can select the one that perfectly fits your needs. So, let’s get started!

YouTube Premium vs. YouTube TV: What is Different?

In essence, YouTube Premium and YouTube TV are the same as both deliver content over the internet. But YouTube Premium is a paid and ad-free subscription that enhances your everyday YouTube video experience, while YouTube TV is a live TV streaming service. And this is what makes all the difference. So, for the sake of making an informed choice, we must compare both options, so you can easily decide which one is it for you — YouTube Premium or YouTube TV.

Quick Comparison

Let’s start with a quick comparison:

YouTube Premium YouTube TV
  • 2 Months free trial 
  • Ad-free streaming
  • Picture-in-picture and background play
  • Full access to YouTube Originals
  • Download videos and watch offline
  • Cost: $13.99/month
  • 100+ live TV channels
  • Unlimited cloud DVR storage
  • 6 accounts and 3 streams per subscription
  • Access to popular sports networks, including NFL, NBA, and MLB
  • Cost: $52.99/month

YouTube Premium vs. YouTube TV: Which is Better?

Choosing between YouTube Premium and YouTube TV subscription comes down to how you typically like to watch TV and videos online. If you use YouTube only for streaming videos or music, sign up for YouTube Premium. Meanwhile, you should only opt for YouTube TV if you wish to access live TV from major, popular, and premium channels and aren’t already subscribed to any other TV streaming service.  

To further ease your decision-making process, it is essential to recognize the things which set YouTube Premium and YouTube TV apart from each other. So, let’s move ahead!

#1: Service Features

YouTube Premium

YouTube Premium is a paid subscription service that offers useful streaming features on YouTube. It lets you watch YouTube videos without any annoying ad breaks, as well as download content for offline viewing. A YouTube Premium subscription also comes with the benefit of playing YouTube videos in the background even with the device screen locked.

Subscribers can also activate the premium features in their YouTube Kids account. Plus, you may also access YouTube’s streaming music service i.e. YouTube Music Premium. Watch music videos or stream music with the added bonus of ad-free streaming, background playback, downloadable content, etc.

The snag is that YouTube Premium can only save you from the ads YouTube itself distributes, but not help you get rid of ads embedded within the content.

YouTube TV

YouTube TV is one of the best live TV streaming services with impressive channel selection, great user experience, access to live channels & on-demand content, and much more.

YouTube TV’s claim to fame is the sheer number of channels in English and Spanish. It offers 100+ of the top networks, including ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, and local PBS stations in most service markets. For news lovers, YouTube TV offers BBC America, CNN, CNBC, MSNBC, and FOX News. While sports aficionados get access to ESPN, ESPN 2, CBS Sports, NBA TV, NBC Sports, NFL Network, and MLB Network.

You also have the option to subscribe to a Spanish Plan, which offers 30+ Spanish networks along with all the features of Youtube TV at a pretty low price.

What further sweetens the deal is YouTube TV’s cloud DVR feature, which comes packed with unlimited storage with unlimited simultaneous recordings, and almost all the capabilities of a hardware DVR. Subscribers also get access to YouTube Originals — the one area where YouTube TV and YouTube Premium overlap.

#2: Supported Devices

YouTube Premium

YouTube Premium works well on all devices that have access to YouTube. That includes mobile and web along with associated YouTube apps — YouTube Music, YouTube Kids, and YouTube Gaming.

YouTube TV

YouTube TV works great on a variety of devices, including Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Chromecast. The service is also compatible with various phones, tablets, smart TVs, and web browsers.

#3: Cost

YouTube Premium

YouTube Premium offers a free, one-month trial for new subscribers, and after that, it is $13.99 per month. Billing is recurring, so you can cancel anytime. If you want to save some additional bucks, you can sign up for an annual plan for $119.99 to save a bit over $20.

YouTube Premium offers a family plan too that costs $22.99 per month, and lets you add up to 5 family members of 13+ age. On the other hand, the student plan costs $7.99 per month but requires an annual verification.

YouTube TV

A YouTube TV Base Plan is priced at $52.99 per month, for the first 3 months. You’ve more add-on options once you’ve subscribed to the Base Plan, such as more Spanish channels for an extra $14.99/mo. On the other hand, the Spanish Plan costs only $34.99/mo. for the first 3 months.

The subscriptions put at your disposal 3 total streams and 6 different accounts with no hidden fees like broadcast fees, installation charges, or equipment rentals. The cherry on top, there is no annual contract, so you can cancel at any time.

Final Thoughts on YouTube Premium and YouTube TV

If you like watching videos on YouTube but hate the fact that they automatically stop when you lock your phone or open another app. Or you wish to stop ads from popping up in between videos and ruining your overall video-watching experience, a YouTube Premium subscription might be your safe haven.

On the other hand, if you are a cord-cutter who wishes to replicate the cable TV experience, YouTube TV offers brilliant channel variety, amazing DVR features, and incredible performance. And is a terrific choice, provided you don’t have any issue with its high monthly costs.

There You Are!

At this point, you may be wondering if you want to subscribe to both services because each serves a different purpose, and there’s no competition between the two.

Remember if you are not much into TV and spend most of your time watching YouTube videos, then a YouTube Premium subscription is your best bet. However, if you miss watching shows from your favorite TV network, or you're looking to ditch your cable TV subscription, then YouTube TV is an ideal fit for your needs.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is YouTube Premium the same as YouTube TV?

No. YouTube Premium is a paid subscription service that gives you ad-free YouTube, YouTube Kids, and YouTube Music with useful streaming features. YouTube TV, on the other hand, is a live TV streaming service with an impressive collection of major broadcast and popular cable networks.

Is YouTube TV worth the money?

If price is not a concern, YouTube TV is one of the best live streaming services. It offers a wide variety of entertainment options and the best DVR and search combos. However, around $65/mo. could be a hefty amount for some people. But the bright side is the service comes at a discounted price for 3 months and without any contract, so you are free to cancel at any time.

Is it worth buying YouTube Premium?

The best perk of YouTube Premium is ad-free service. If you are a regular YouTube user, it could be definitely worth it for this reason alone.